Springboard



Feb. 9, 1937. H. N. sTEvENsoN SPRINGBOARD Filed Feb. l8, 1936 Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED sTATEs ATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to new and useful improvements in spring boards.

Up to the present time spring boards have been usually formed with a continuous longitudinal taper so that the thickness thereof decreases gradually in one direction from the theoretical fulcrum of the board outwardly toward the socalled diving end thereof with the result that the greater portion of the flexing in the board occurs between the diving end thereof and the fulcrum, thus concentrating the strain substantially at the latter point and causing the board to stiffen which greatly reduces its life and period of utility. The principal object of the present invention therefore, is to provide a spring board constructed and arranged to more uniformly distribute longitudinal flexing thereof throughout the entire length of the board so that the latter is rendered more flexible and the life and period of utility thereof substantially increased. These and other objects of the invention and the features and details of construction thereof, are set forth hereinafter and shown in the accompany- ..5 ing drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of a spring board embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a View in section on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the disclosure m in Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a spring board made in accordance with the present invention comprises generally a supporting structure including front and rear spaced standards I and 2 which may be of substantially the same height as shown or arranged so that the front standards I are of slightly greater or less height than the rear standards 2 depending upon the desired angular position of the spring m board 3 with respect to the water or other surface.

Support members il and 5 extend longitudinally between the upper ends of each front and rear vertical standard I and 2 respectively at each side of the supporting structure as shown in Fig. 45 1 of the drawing, and substantially similar cross members 6 and I extend horizontally between the upper ends of each of said front and rear vertical standards.

'I'he cross member I3 constitutes a fulcrum or 50 support for the spring board 3 and may or may not be provided with a rubber or other resilient sleeve or covering 8 to provide a cushion or snubber for said board. The spring board 3 is rigidly secured or anchored at one end to the other cross 55 member I by means of bolts or the like 9 and extends longitudinally of the supporting structure overlying the fulcrum member 6 for an appreciabl'e distance beyond the lattei` as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

A particular feature of the invention resides in forming the spring board 3 so that its upper surface I 0 is substantially planar while the opposite face or surface thereof tapers in opposite directions outwardly toward the ends of the board as indicated at II and I2 respectively so 1o that the longitudinal thickness of said board decreases gradually in opposite directions toward the ends of the board from a predetermined point intermediate the latter, preferably located substantially at or adjacent the point of contact of l5 said board with the fulcrum member E.

By tapering the spring board in opposite directions toward each end thereof in the foregoing manner so that the longitudinal thickness thereof decreases gradually toward opposite ends, the g flexibility of the board between the anchored end thereof and the fulcrum is materially increased and results in a more uniform distribution of longitudinal flexing throughout the length of the board and as well as increasing the life or period g5 of utility of the spring board.

On the other hand, if the spring board is sufficiently flexible between the diving end and the fulcrum, such a board need only taper toward the rear or anchorage end of said board from a point adjacent said fulcrum so that the thickness thereof gradually decreases rearwardly therefrom to increase the flexibility of the board between the fulcrum and said anchorage, and while a specific embodiment of the invention has been set forth for purposes of description it is not intended that said invention be precisely limited thereto but that modification and change may be incorporated therein where within the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character described,

a supporting structure including a fulcrum member, and a spring board resting on said fulcrum member and anchored at one end to said sup- .45 porting structure, said spring board tapering in opposite directions towards each end thereof from a point adjacent the fulcrum member so that the thickness of the board decreases gradually toward each end thereof to increase the flexibility 5o of saidboard between said fulcrum member and anchorage.

2. In an apparatus of the character described,

a supporting structure including a fulcrum member, and a spring board resting on said fulcrum structed and arranged to increase the flexibility of said board between the fulcrum member and anchorage.

4. A spring board the longitudinal thickness of which decreases gradually in opposite directions toward each end of said board from a point intermediate said ends so that longitudinal iiexing of the board about said point is distributed substantially uniformly throughout the length of said board.

HORACE N. STEVENSON. 

